Ch. 571..580

Chapter 571: Am I Terrifying?

“…” She was almost defeated by him. Joshua was so eager to go to the reunion of her class? Even if the two events collided, he still wanted to find time to attend the reunion.

Now that he had said that, how could she say no?

Since he wanted to attend it so much, then she would just go with him. After all, as he said, although the reunion was scheduled for 10 o’clock, a group of classmates would just have dinner and brag together. It would be okay for Hazel and Joshua to get there at noon.

“All right.” She nodded in agreement.

On the day of the reunion, Hazel and Joshua went to the hotel of Denmark Group for the meeting.

After reaching the hotel, Hazel went to the bathroom first. Joshua wasn’t relieved and kept walking her to the bathroom.

Hardly had Hazel entered the bathroom when she met an acquaintance, the wife of director Wilson in Denmark Group. Mrs. Wilson often went in and out of Denmark Group together with Director Wilson and was particularly “persistent.”

“Ah, Hazel, are you here?” Mrs. Wilson was washing her hands. As soon as she saw Hazel, her face was all smiling.

Hazel gave her a slight nod. Now she had been used to seeing others whose eyes were like those of a hungry wolf staring at fat meat.

Hazel didn’t say much to her, but directly walked into one of the cubicles. When she came out, she saw Mrs. Wilson waiting for her.

Hazel’s lips twitched slightly, but she calmly reached the sink and turned on the tap.

“Hazel, looks like the baby in your belly must be more than five months old?” Mrs. Wilson’s eyes gleamed with greed, but she pretended to be caring.

“Yes.” Hazel nodded softly and squeezed out some hand sanitizer.

“Women must be more careful while getting pregnant….” Mrs. Wilson began to talk to Hazel as a person who had had the experience.

Hazel would definitely be grateful if someone told her this during normal times. Unfortunately, Hazel was well aware that Mrs. Wilson’s intentions were not pure, so Hazel couldn’t appreciate it at all.

“But, well, no matter how careful a woman is, it’s more reliable when she has a man around,” Mrs. Wilson said meaningfully, “Hazel, don’t blame me for speaking plainly. Although Mr. President is a very good person, one has to move on. Don’t you think so? After giving birth to the baby, you will be a single mother. How inconvenient will it be for you to take care of a baby?”

“Mmm, you’re right.” Hazel gave her a rare response. She went to the hand dryer and allowed the warm wind to dry her hands.

In a flash, Mrs. Wilson was very delighted. She had persuaded Hazel many times, but every time she only saw Hazel’s extreme indifference. Although she had scolded Hazel violently in her heart, she always looked like an elder who cared for her.

She actually convinced Hazel at present? Instantly, Mrs. Wilson seemed to see that Hazel would end up in their Wilson family’s hands.

“Hazel, I think you should meet some people,” Mrs. Wilson said hurriedly, knowing “now or never.” “My son will come back from abroad this weekend. He is now a graduate student at the best university in the world! He is only three years older than you. I don’t want to boast, but my son looks very handsome and looks especially like me. He is as good-looking as the President! Besides, he is very considerate. He has been looking for a girl like you. You’re both young people. Why don’t you get together and have a good talk?”

The water on Hazel’s hand had been dried. Hazel looked at her with a smile. “Thanks for your kindness, Mrs. Wilson, but I’ve already selected a man.”

“What?!” Mrs. Wilson was worried instantly. She just talked Hazel into accepting new men, but Hazel actually had had a date? The bird had flown. How could she allow that to happen?

“Hazel, you are a little dishonest,” Mrs. Wilson could no longer suppress the agitation in her heart and kept scolding Hazel. “It has not been a long time after Mr. President was in distress. How can you date another man so quickly? You didn’t love Mr. President at all, did you?”

“Didn’t you suggest that I look ahead?” Then, with a hint of sarcasm in her smile, Hazel ignored Mrs. Wilson and headed for the bathroom door.

“You should look ahead indeed,” said Mrs. Wilson, still rebuking her, “but if you do choose a man, you should choose our son … our people from the Denmark Group! How do you know if the guys who fawn on you come for Denmark Group? You are such a little girl who has never seen the bad side of the world and is easily cheated by men’s sweet words! Who did you choose? Whoever you choose, you must ask for our permission.” All of a sudden, it seemed Mrs. Wilson was being strangled. Her mouth was wide open, and she couldn’t make a sound.

She was surprised to see the man waiting outside the bathroom. Her face turned extremely pale as if she had seen a ghost!

She looked incredulous. The next moment, she looked at Hazel, panic-stricken. “Hazel, do, do, you, see….”

“What’s it?” Hazel’s eyes gleamed with amusement, but she pretended to look at Mrs. Wilson, puzzled.

“Ghost, ghost!” Mrs. Wilson screamed, turned, and ran away quickly.

“Am I terrifying?” Joshua held out his hand to touch his handsome face with a flash of amusement in his eyes.

“Absolutely not!” Hazel took him by his arm, laughing. “Someone has an ulterior motive in his heart.”

He was back, but very few people knew about it.

In addition, he had been busy searching for his memory with Hazel and explaining the incident to Hazel’s parents.

Samuel thought he should give them time to be alone, so he kept the news from the others.

Hence, none of the directors in Denmark Group knew about Joshua’s return.

Although Joshua was missing, a few months had passed. They decided he was dead, so they dared to plot against Hazel.

Mrs. Wilson was one of them. When she saw Joshua, she thought she had done something wrong, so she ran into Joshua’s “ghost.”

Mrs. Wilson ran back to the meeting room, her face still pale.

“What’s the matter with you?” Director Wilson looked at her angrily.

“I, I just saw…”

Mrs. Wilson was about to say that she had seen Joshua’s ghost when a pang of doubt came over her heart.

Even if she had seen Joshua’s ghost, it wouldn’t change anything even if she told her husband, would it?

Moreover, that was not the really important point right now.、

Mrs. Wilson gritted her teeth and said bitterly, “I just met Hazel. She’s dating another man!”

 

Chapter 572: A Morning Sickness

“What?!” He looked at her in shock.

Although he didn’t have Mrs. Wilson’s unrealistic expectations that Hazel would marry his son and that Hazel would hand Denmark Group over to him, Hazel’s choice was always a matter of great concern to all the directors.

At least it seemed Hazel had been faithful to Joshua. Even if she wouldn’t choose his son, she also couldn’t marry other directors’ sons; this had always been Director Wilson’s thoughts.

But now… Hazel was actually dating an unknown man? How could that be?!

“I mean,” said Mrs. Wilson, clenching her fist and raising her voice, “our Hazel has a boyfriend!”

The conference room, which had been noisy, was suddenly quiet.

All the directors turned to look at Mrs. Wilson. The next moment, the whole conference room was filled with discussion!

“How could she have a boyfriend? We disagree!”

“Who is that man?”

“Mrs. Wilson, where did you get this information?”

***

Like Director Wilson, these directors thought in the same way. They had been able to get along peacefully for the time being, and that was because Hazel didn’t choose any of their sons.

But if Hazel did marry again, she would have to marry one of their sons. Otherwise, no matter who she married, they would be the first to oppose. Not only would they oppose it, but they would do their best to destroy it.

Mrs. Wilson looked at the situation with satisfaction. She didn’t think Hazel could still be with her man in this situation!

“Where did I get this information?” Mrs. Wilson sneered, “It was, of course, Hazel who told me just now when I met Hazel! Would I lie to you about such a serious matter?”

“No! Absolutely not!” the directors said almost in unison. They were not Hazel’s elders or relatives, but at this point, they didn’t think it was wrong for them to meddle in her affairs.

It was rare that the directors were so unanimous. Since Hazel hadn’t arrived yet, they immediately agreed that one of them should call Hazel and ask her about it.

Finally, they collectively chose Director Wilson to make the call. Director Wilson didn’t refuse because he was also dying to know what the situation was.

Hazel was about to go to the conference room, but she suddenly felt sick and ran back to the bathroom to throw up for a while.

Joshua didn’t mind that this was the ladies’ room, so he followed and entered. The bodyguard quickly brought them a bottle of water. Joshua handed it to Hazel.

“Are you better?” Joshua patted her on the back, looking worried. “Maybe we should go to the hospital first….”

“I’m fine. Rest assured,” Hazel said, rinsing her mouth and forcing a smile. “It’s just morning sickness. It’s normal.”

Joshua’s big hand rested lightly on her belly, still furrowing his brow. “Morning sickness? Isn’t the baby more than five months old? Why do you still have morning sickness?”

“Everyone has a different physique,” she explained. “Some people throw up all the time, but don’t worry. It’s been two months, and I’ve had less and less morning sickness.”

“So you had severe morning sickness?” Joshua’s face turned paler. He became more remorseful. Hazel had suffered so much, but he wasn’t there for her when she needed him.

Hazel froze slightly, feeling helpless at the focus of Joshua’s attention. As he had guessed, Hazel’s morning sickness was much worse. Her morning sickness was at its worst at the time of Denmark Group’s turmoil. Come to think of it, Hazel didn’t know how she got through it.

Perhaps it was the belief that she would see Joshua again that kept her going.

“It’s not that serious.” She smiled, understating it, “Besides, who doesn’t have morning sickness while getting pregnant?”

Joshua held out his arms and took her gently in his arms. Hazel comforted him with these words, but if he took them seriously, he would be too careless.

His remorse rolled endlessly, and his hand rested lightly on her belly. “You mustn’t mess with your mother again, little one, am I clear? Or I’ll spunk you when you come out!”

She, who tried to console him, was amused by his last words. She couldn’t help saying, “How old is it? Even if you warn it now, it can’t understand, can it?”

He was about to say something when her cell phone rang.

“The directors are supposed to be pushing me. I’m going to answer the phone.” She glanced at the screen.

Answering the phone, Hazel didn’t want to vomit anymore. She walked out of the bathroom and headed for the conference room. Joshua followed her, still looking worried.

“Hazel, the meeting is about to begin. We wonder when you will arrive,” Director Wilson asked politely.

“I’ll be right there,” she said calmly. It was only a minute or two from the bathroom to the conference room. She had just met Mrs. Wilson, and Director Wilson should have known she would be here in a few minutes. However, he called Hazel now. It meant he was likely calling to question her.

“Hazel, I’d like to ask you something on behalf of the directors,” Director Wilson directly said. “My wife said you’ve got a boyfriend. Is that true?”

Director Wilson’s phone went directly into the microphone, and all the directors were nervously waiting for Hazel’s answer.

Suddenly, they heard Hazel chuckle.

“What’s Director Wilson talking about? I don’t have a boyfriend,” she said with a faint smile. Instead of letting the directors breathe a sigh of relief, she added, “All I have is a legitimate husband who has a marriage license with me.”

“What?!” The conference room became even noisier.

How dared Hazel get a marriage license behind their back?

“No way, we won’t agree!”

“We won’t admit it!”

“Hazel, please get a divorce. This man is obviously after your money!”

***

Listening to the criticism over the phone, she smiled more coldly.

“Guys, you are neither my parents nor my elders. Do I need to ask you for your permission when I marry?”

Her voice rang out, which quieted down the noisy conference room. But soon, the directors were even more disgruntled.

 

Chapter 573: Is It Actually Joshua?

“We’re the directors of Denmark Group. Why can’t we know about your affair?!” One of the directors shouted impetuously, “Even if you marry, you should hand Denmark Group over to us first!”

The room fell into an eerie silence.

This was almost what the directors had in mind, but they wanted the last bit of face, so no one would say these words with great confidence.

So they were a little embarrassed to hear someone speak it out.

“Cough, cough…” Director Wilson coughed and said with a little embarrassment, “Hazel, we didn’t mean any harm. Unfortunately, you are not experienced enough, so you are easily cheated by men. So even if you do have a crush on a man, you should bring him back to us. After all, your business is Denmark Group. How can you say this has nothing to do with us?”

“Yes, yes, yes!” The others hurried to agree.

“Oh?” Hazel sneered. These directors were really awesome as they could actually think of such a seemingly good excuse.

She spoke coldly. “Let’s talk when we meet, I’m already outside the room.”

When the phone was hung up, the directors all looked toward the door of the conference room, eager to fight.

“Have you notified the press?” Director Wilson whispered to Mrs. Wilson.

“Yes,” whispered Mrs. Wilson, with a sneer, “Hazel pretends to be a faithful wife in front of us. When the reporters come, her false mask will be exposed!”

The door of the conference room was pushed open. The people who were talking quietly became quiet immediately, and all looked at the door because they would denounce Hazel publicly for her ‘crimes.’

Hazel appeared calmly at the doorway. Just standing there, she could feel the threatening atmosphere in the conference room.

She wore a half-smile without any intention of going in. “I hear that the directors are very interested in my husband and are desperate to see him. It so happened that I asked him to come back today.”

The whole conference room was in an uproar. They didn’t expect Hazel to attack them before they could even start questioning. Only a few careful directors heard Hazel say, ‘called him back.’ Who is he?

“You ask him to come in!”

“We’d like to see what kind of man sweeps you off your feet!”

***

The directors shouted angrily. Just then, a slender figure appeared in the doorway of the conference room. The directors suddenly seemed strangled and silenced.

How is that possible?!

Did they see a ghost? Why was it actually Joshua who stood at the door?!

In a flash, the directors’ arrogance and anger vanished. As Joshua’s cool eyes scanned them, they felt like a basin of ice water had been thrown over their heads, and they became cold from head to toe!

“Ghost, ghost!” Mrs. Wilson cried out in horror, but the next moment his mouth was covered by Director Wilson.

“Don’t talk nonsense!” Director Wilson scolded her under his breath.

Joshua stopped scanning and gently helped Hazel walk into the conference room.

Looking at the two people in front of the room, the directors came to their senses. Is it actually Joshua?! But isn’t he dead?!

Joshua pulled out of the chair for Hazel and sat her down before turning to look at all the directors, who tried to avoid his eyes, confused.

“Directors, I am back.” Joshua broke the eerie silence in the conference room.

His sharp eyes scanned the directors again. His voice was unprecedentedly cold. “In recent months, I have been on a business trip in the branch in Country M, and I’m too busy to come back. But it is very strange as I actually heard some ridiculous rumors!”

The directors suddenly pulled a long face.

Hazel had never made it clear to the public about Joshua’s death because she always believed that he would come back, so she always used Joshua’s business trip in Country M to explain to them.

But there was no impermeable wall in this world. Hazel’s belly kept growing, but Joshua was nowhere to be seen. The directors were not stupid. How could they believe that Joshua was on a business trip?

What was more, a lot of directors got their men to Country M to investigate and confirmed that no staff there had seen Joshua, so they guessed that Joshua definitely had an accident! Only in this way could the events for these months be fully justified!

But they had no idea that Joshua would… return after he was presumed dead!

“Mr., Mr. President, it’s not our fault,” one of the directors explained in a low voice. “It’s hard for us not to think too much, for you haven’t shown up for such a long time….”

“Think too much?!” Joshua’s eyes went cold. His words were thick with sarcasm. “Why did I hear someone was trying to steal my wife away?”

In an instant, the directors all trembled with fear. Being questioned by Joshua like that, they really didn’t know what to defend themselves.

Could they say that Hazel’s attitude caused them to misunderstand? But it was they who had been speculating from beginning to end. Both Hazel and Samuel had insisted that Joshua was in Country M.

Or could they say it was because Joshua hadn’t been around for so long, or even because Hazel was pregnant? But even if Joshua did not show up, did he need to report his whereabouts to them? If they dared say that, they would annoy Joshua completely.

Even the directors seemed to have an illusion that… It was a feeler of Hazel and Joshua trying to know their reaction from the beginning to the end.

“You really let me down,” Joshua said with a chill in his eyes.

The directors looked even paler. Being rebuked by Joshua, they all looked like grandsons who made a mistake. They knew they really had gone too far and had been too eager for quick success and instant benefits, so Joshua directly caught them.

“It’s said that Mrs. Wilson’s son is going to graduate?” Joshua spoke calmly.

“Yes…” Mrs. Wilson was a little unsteady on her feet and answered honestly.

“It so happens that the branch in Country R is founded. He can work out there,” Joshua spoke, indifferent.

Mrs. Wilson was worried instantly. Country R is was small, remote country. Joshua was clearly avenging himself on them in the name of public interests and deliberately dispatching her son abroad!

“Mr. President, we are used to doting on our son and not willing to let him live too far away from us. If he really goes to Country R, we would not have been able to eat or sleep comfortably. Please show understanding and sympathy for us,” Director Wilson said hurriedly.

 

Chapter 574: That’s Settled

“Yes, yes,” agreed Mrs. Wilson. “I’m afraid our son is not qualified…”

“Cough, cough.” Director Wilson stopped Mrs. Wilson by giving her a good kick under the table. He just didn’t want his son to go to Country R, but he didn’t want to belittle his own son. If she said their son wasn’t excellent, how could they help their son get a job in Denmark Group in the future?

“My son has just graduated. Although he is not qualified for the job in the branch office right now, if he can be trained, he will be very competent,” Director Wilson said.

Mrs. Wilson nodded like a chicken pecking at rice instantly.

“So Director Wilson is very confident in your son’s ability?” “Joshua asked flatly.

“Yes!” Director Wilson gritted his teeth.

“You don’t want him to go to Country R just because your parents are worried about him?” Joshua’s mouth tilted upwards slightly at the corners. His smile was clearly so warm, but in the eyes of others, it seemed a little frightening.

“Yes, yes, yes!” Director Wilson said hurriedly. After he said this reason, he did not believe that Joshua could force his son to go abroad.

“Poor parents,” Joshua sighed. But then, he suddenly changed his voice. “In that case, you two should accompany him to Country R. Wouldn’t it be the best of both worlds if he could have you around to take care of him and display his talent at the same time?”

Director Wilson and his wife opened their mouths wide in surprise. It never occurred to them that, instead of making their son stay in Country Z, they were both dispatched to Country R! if the two of them went to Country R, where they were strangers, they would not be able to help their son, but would hinder him!

Mrs. Wilson was extremely remorseful now. She knew clearly that Joshua was punishing their family as a warning to the other directors because she wanted to introduce her son to Hazel in the bathroom.

She looked at Hazel as if she had caught the last straw. She begged, “Hazel, please help me! I know I said something wrong in the bathroom, but I really meant no harm….”

Hazel didn’t expect Mrs. Wilson to say that. Hazel looked at her blankly, her eyebrows slightly raised. “Bathroom? What are you talking about, Mrs. Wilson? You told me about pregnancy and life, and I expressed my gratitude to you at that time.”

Mrs. Wilson suddenly turned pale. It was true that she and Hazel had an ambiguous conversation, and Hazel gave her an ambiguous answer, which was why she ran into the conference room to make trouble. If she did mention the conversation, she would only annoy Joshua. Her whole family would never be able to return to Country Z for the rest of their lives.

“That’s settled,” Joshua spoke coldly.

Mrs. Wilson fell back into her chair, driven to distraction. Now that Joshua had said that, there must have been no turning back.

The meeting was still going on, but the incident with Director Wilson directly sounded the alarm to the other directors and scared them so much that they dared not retort. Instead, they jittered, afraid Joshua would get even with them.

The meeting went on without a hitch. At about eleven o’clock, the meeting was almost over.

“That’s all for today’s meeting,” Joshua said with a dignified face as he scanned the directors. “Directors, you are adults. I hope you will not believe or spread rumors in the future. It is better to be down-to-earth. Dismissed!”

These few meaningful words made the directors more obedient. They knew Joshua was warning them!

Hearing ‘dismissed,’ they all heaved a sigh of relief and ran to the door of the conference room.

Joshua’s warning and criticism really scared them. It was very likely that if he was missing again, no one would try to plot against Hazel again. Even if they had this kind of thought, they would worry if Joshua was setting them up again.

The directors knew that, and so did Hazel. Hence, she didn’t say much during the meeting, leaving everything to Joshua.

Hazel’s heart was very warm when she thought he was doing all this for her. When none of the directors noticed her as they hurried away, she could not help but kiss Joshua on the cheek as a reward and whispered, “Joshua, you are so kind to me…”

“Hazel, I’m not kind enough.” Joshua gave a wry smile. If it hadn’t been for his disappearance, Hazel wouldn’t have to face the wolves by herself. In the end, it was his fault.

“Joshua…” Guessing what he was thinking, Hazel tried to persuade him when she heard a noise outside the door.

“What’s going on?” Hazel asked, puzzled.

There was a gleam in his eye.

Outside, a group of reporters came and happened to meet those directors who came out of the conference room.

“There have been rumors that Joshua Denmark, President of Denmark Group, was killed. Is it true or not?”

“I heard that Hazel Denmark, the current President of Denmark Group, has married another man. Is it true?”

***

Listening to the reporters’ sharp questions, the directors’ faces turned paler and paler.

“Didn’t I tell you not to let those reporters come?” Director Wilson whispered angrily to Mrs. Wilson.

Before the meeting, Director Wilson was eager for these reporters to come and ruin Hazel’s reputation. But Hazel’s man was Joshua, which would only make Hazel and Joshua more welcome and popular. How could Director Wilson be willing to help Joshua? So he immediately told Mrs. Wilson to stop the reporters at that time.

“I didn’t ask them to come!” Mrs. Wilson was also panicky. “It must be other people who asked the reporter to come, isn’t it?”

“He’s set us up again…” Director Wilson gritted his teeth as if he thought of something. If a reporter knew the location of the meeting of Denmark Group, it must be a people knowing about the meeting which informed the reporter. The reporters arrived at the end of the meeting. They were so ‘considerate,’ so it should be Joshua who had informed the reporters.

Unfortunately, no one thought Joshua did it. Almost everyone thought it was the directors who wanted Hazel to make a fool of herself who invited the reporter.

“Stop it, stop it!” Outside the door, the directors all shouted angrily at the reporters. “How can you photograph Denmark Group’s meeting? Leave now!”

But the reporters kept asking sharp questions.

“Make way.”

A cold voice sounded, and the directors froze. The next moment, they all made their own accords.

 

Chapter 575: Can I Talk Something Personal?

Joshua walked to the reporters with Hazel.

He guarded her with his arms carefully for fear that someone might run into her by accident.

The moment they saw him, the reporters, like the directors of Denmark Group, were silent. There was an eerie silence.

Over the past few months, a number of reporters had learned about the turmoil at Denmark Group and Joshua’s death from the directors. It was just a pity that Hazel kept the news from revealing.

Today, they finally received a message and perceived a hint of an unusual smell. They had thought Denmark Group’s directors wanted to fall out with Hazel, so they came, trying to make big news.

But… they actually saw Joshua Denmark?!

When a dead man suddenly appeared in front of them, even the well-informed reporters were all speechless with shock.

Joshua’s indifferent eyes scanned all the people who felt cold in the heart.

“In the past few months of my business trip to Country M, there have been many absurd rumors. I’m sure you’ve heard about it,” he spoke quietly, “but I am also sure you all know that rumors are just rumors. Since everyone is here, I’ll just say something.”

The reporters immediately pointed their cameras at him. The directors were very guilty and upset. If Joshua said something to the press on this occasion, they would have a much harder time in the future!

“Denmark Group is doing well,” Joshua looked down at Hazel in his arms, his eyes full of tenderness and indulgence. “We, a husband and a wife, are deeply in love with each other. No one can destroy our relationship casually.”

The few simple sentences explained everything that should be explained.

These words were said to those who thought that Denmark Group was in turmoil and Hazel’s position was in jeopardy. Those directors wanted to plot against Hazel? No way!

Moreover… Joshua had admitted that he and Hazel were married!

It was hard to keep Hazel’s pregnancy from the public. Although she had always insisted that she had been married to Joshua and that the baby belonged to him, there had always been unpleasant speculation.

Hazel didn’t care about these rumors, but Joshua remembered them in his heart. He wouldn’t allow anyone to criticize Hazel. Now, everyone present heard Joshua’s testimony and saw his love for Hazel. Who dared talk nonsense?

Joshua then asked the staff to take the reporters and the directors away while he took Hazel to a breakroom. They planned the reunion after a short rest.

“Why did these reporters come all of a sudden?” There was a bright light in her clear eyes. “It isn’t a coincidence that they came here, is it?”

“I think,” Joshua said with a calm expression, “since so many reporters came here, maybe some restless directors called them.”

“But when the directors saw you, they shouldn’t let these reporters come anymore, should they?” she asked sharply.

She had spent so much time fighting with the directors that she knew what they thought. Even if they had called the reporters, the directors would have tried to stop them from coming after meeting Joshua.

“But reporters with a keen sense wouldn’t just give up like that, would they?” Joshua said calmly.

Hazel’s lips twitched. Joshua certainly had a point, but the fact that the reporters were able to walk right into the building of Denmark Group, come to the meeting room, and happen to meet the directors showed that it couldn’t be that simple!

Joshua must have secretly ordered his men to get the reporters here. But if Joshua didn’t want to admit it, Hazel wasn’t going to question him closely.

“Whatever you say,” she said, disappointed. It was clear that he had said he wouldn’t keep anything from her.

Joshua had a gleam in his eye. Suddenly he held out his arms and took her gently in his arms.

“Joshua?” She looked at him with astonishment.

Joshua sighed quietly. “Hazel, I’m sorry that I’ve left all this to you, and you had to handle it alone.”

He couldn’t intuitively feel until now how hard it was for Hazel, who was pregnant, to face the directors’ objection, the media’s criticism, and hidden dangers all by herself.

Thinking about Hazel’s difficult situation during this period of time, he began to hate himself. If he wasn’t useless and hadn’t left her, how could she encounter these troubles?

Feeling his guilt, Hazel froze. Was the reason why Joshua allowed the reporters to come? Maybe he just wanted to tell everyone who wanted to bully her not to hurt her as long as he was around!

Hazel was relieved. Maybe Joshua didn’t remember what had happened in the past, but he still felt the same way about her.

“Fine, fine,” she said quietly, “I don’t blame you. Besides…”

She lifted her little face, her bright eyes full of admiration. Then she gave him a kiss on the cheek as a reward. “You did well today! I’m sure no director can tell you to lose your memory!”

His heart was warm when he saw the pride on her face. He whispered, gently stroking her hair. “You’re a good teacher.”

Hazel had already briefed him on Denmark Group before they came to the meeting so that when he faced the directors, he could behave naturally, and none found anything unusual.

“No, it’s because you’re brilliant and capable!” Hazel looked up at the clock on the wall and smiled. “Let’s stop complimenting each other. It’s time to go to the reunion.”

“Mmm.” He nodded in agreement.

The couple took the elevator to the floor where the reunion was.

The reunion was organized by Hazel’s class monitor. The monitor had a good family background and got along with people quite well.

Hazel and Joshua had just approached the door of the box when the monitor came out of it.

“Hazel, you’re here?” The monitor greeted her. His eyes suddenly lit up as they fell on Joshua. “Master, Master Denmark?”

Joshua was somewhat surprised to be recognized. Either way, the other party was Hazel’s classmate, so Joshua gave him a very polite nod.

“That… Can you spare me a few minutes?” The monitor rubbed his hands nervously. “Can I talk to you about something personal?”

 

Chapter 576: Graduation Celebration

Joshua frowned slightly. He looked at Hazel with a bit of confusion.

The monitor was not bad, but also very capable. Moreover, she was willing to give him a chance to communicate with Joshua.

Hazel looked at Joshua and calmly said, “I’ll go in first.”

The monitor gave her a grateful look. She nodded at him, then pushed open the door of the private room where the reunion was held and calmly walked in.

The monitor booked a luxury private room. After graduation, many students parted with one another. There were only 20 students present today, a few of them were from other classes.

“Hazel, here!” Ariel waved at her. She was happy seeing Hazel join the celebration today. Recently, they rarely communicate with each other as they’re busy with so many things.

The entire room fell silent at the sound of Hazel’s name, and a few malicious eyes fell upon her instantly.

Hazel directly ignored the eyes and gracefully walked to Ariel.

“Oh, you come here today. What a big surprise you spent time with this celebration?” Derek looked at her. Although Hazel satirized him that day, he couldn’t help imagining the scene where he was with Hazel again.

“How can you say that,” said Ariel, rolling her eyes at him angrily. “It isn’t you who hold the reunion, why can’t Hazel come? She’s also one of the students in our university,”

“Oh, Derek, did you forget that Hazel’s identity is different now? She’s very rich now. Her attending the reunion gives us a face. We should be grateful to her for giving us such a chance to meet with her. How can you question her? Look, aren’t you dissed because you don’t fawn on her?

A voice dripping with sarcasm sounded. Hazel frowned. She followed the sound. It was Karla Lee, whom she had been on bad terms with before.

“You…!” Ariel was angry. Karla not only sneered at Hazel but also implied that Ariel was trying to curry favor with Hazel.

Hazel was speechless. She certainly did not forget Karla. When she went out with Ivan, Karla, who had a crush on him, set her up and accused her of stealing.

Later, Ivan was said to be engaged to Karla because of family pressure, but the couple broke off the engagement soon after, and Karla blamed Hazel for all this and said it was Hazel who damaged their relationship.

However, at the time, it was said that Hazel had an affair with Joshua. Compared to Joshua, Ivan was just a small potato, so few people believed Karla, and many people even sneered at her, thinking she wanted to become famous by saying that.

Hazel ignored Karla’s statement because it wasn’t a big deal, but she didn’t expect she would meet with Karla here.

Noticing Ariel was about to quarrel with Karla, Hazel grabbed Ariel by the arm and stopped her.

“Classmate, it seems you aren’t from our class?” Hazel said flatly.

“I was invited by your monitor himself!” Karla replied defiantly.

Hazel nodded calmly and spoke with an indifferent face, “So how are you going to curry favor with me?”

“What did you say?!” Karla’s face paled.

“Didn’t you say,” Hazel said, looking at her with a half-smile, “that my attending gave you face, you should be very grateful to me for giving you this opportunity to meet, so you had to curry favor with me, or you would be dissed?”

“You, you… !” Karla’s face was completely livid. She was so enraged that she glared at Hazel, speechless.

How could Hazel be so shameless as Hazel not only ignored the sarcasm in her words but also used them against her?

Ariel was amused. Hazel was really smart. But they didn’t need to go easy on this kind of woman like Karla.

“Yes, yes,” she echoed, “if you don’t hurry up, I’ll diss you!”

“You…!” Karla clenched her teeth. She was so furious that she was really dying to fall out with Hazel totally!

But if she did, how could these people in the room who were Hazel’s classmates take her side? Moreover, she had boasted to her family that she would make the monitor fall in love with her. If she did make a scene, she would not stand a chance.

“I… I was only joking.” Karla gritted her teeth and wore an innocent look.

Hazel was surprised. With Karla’s former temper, she would never stop fighting. But now she actually changed?

Either way, since Karla had admitted her mistake, Hazel thought there was no need for them to make a scene at the reunion.

“Well, well, you were all joking, we don’t have to take it seriously.” Derek hurried to mediate.

Noticing the atmosphere was a bit embarrassing, he quickly changed the subject. “Hazel, we haven’t met for a long time. Now you look better and much healthier than before.”

Hazel used to look skinny, but now she was ruddy and plump. Actually, Hazel’s belly was already obviously different. Although Derek had some guesses in his heart, he was reluctant to admit them.

“How can she not be healthy?” Karla gave out a sneer. She cared about Hazel so much that she had been paying attention to all the gossip about Hazel. “However, why do you look pregnant? Oh, Hazel, sorry, I’m just kidding.”

All the other classmates looked at Hazel in amazement, their eyes inquisitive.

Derek’s face changed slightly. He wanted to be with Hazel, but if she were pregnant with someone else’s baby, he would look down upon her.

He couldn’t help asking, “Hazel… are you really pregnant?”

Hazel noticed the slight disdain in his eyes. She gave him a sardonic look and then admitted openly, “Yeah, I’m pregnant.”

Derek’s face paled, and he looked at Hazel with a look of disgust. Of course, there was still greed in his eyes.

“Derek, you actually don’t know that?” Karla opened her mouth to ridicule despite herself. “As soon as she graduated, she was the President of Denmark Group. It’s said that their relationship was so good that Joshua Denmark even gave her Denmark Group!”

 

Chapter 577: Haven’t You Read Today’s News?

She wore an indifferent expression. She didn’t think Karla would help her.

Sure enough, Karla continued, “But then… I heard that the President of the Denmark Group suddenly disappeared. No one knows where he has gone. It’s said that he’s been gone for more than half a year. Oh, by the way, Hazel, why does it look like your baby is five months old?”

Hazel’s eyes went cool. It had to be said that Karla was really capable now.

Karla said just a few words, but she kept throwing mud at Hazel.

Joshua was so nice to her but hardly had he handed over Denmark Group to Hazel when he disappeared. Joshua disappeared for more than six months, but she was only five months pregnant.

Clearly, Karla meant that Hazel became Joshua’s lover for money, that she had cheated him out of his money and then killed him, and that she was enjoying all the benefits that Denmark Group brought with a child whose father was unknown.

Although almost all the people in the private room were Hazel’s classmates, they didn’t know much about each other because they didn’t live or work together after graduation. On hearing Karla’s words, many classmates could not help thinking in this way.

Seeing Ariel get angry again, Hazel stopped her again. Hazel wouldn’t be soft on the kind of woman, but it was not worth her anger.

“Oh, my,” Karla suddenly smiled and continued, “Don’t get me wrong, Hazel. I’m just a bit gossipy. After all, we know each other. However, I heard that you were with the President of Denmark Group, so I couldn’t help thinking that if I could receive your wedding invitation, it would be a great honor! But who knew I actually didn’t have such a chance?”

Everyone’s face changed slightly.

Karla’s words meant the same thing: Hazel is not married. Whoever the baby’s father was, she had a baby before she got married. If word got out, it wouldn’t sound good.

“You do know a lot,” Hazel satirized, looking at her. “but you’re right. You’ll never have the chance to attend my wedding.”

“You…!” Karla’s face was livid. She was so angry that she almost swore at Hazel. She didn’t understand. Why was Hazel so calm?

Karla waited for Hazel to fight back, and then she would expose Hazel’s disguise in front of everyone so they could disdain and despise her. But now, it seemed all Karla’s attacks hit only air.

Ariel couldn’t help laughing. “Hazel, if you invite someone like that to your wedding, I’ll think you’re crazy.”

“You… mustn’t go too far!” Karla was getting irritated. “Hazel, you know clearly what you did! Do you insist on making it clear?”

“Yes,” Hazel spoke flatly.

“Enough, enough, stop quarreling.” Derek began to meddle again. “Hazel, don’t give her a hard time. After all, she is the monitor’s guest.”

Seeing Derek take Karla’s side and be partial to her, Ariel said crossly, “Derek, what the fuck is wrong with you? She’s a guest of the monitor. Isn’t Hazel also a guest of his? Do we all have to give in to Karla, the woman who is making trouble without reason? She doesn’t know anything and just talks nonsense.”

Derek couldn’t reply. Karla was so infuriated by Ariel that she couldn’t suppress her anger anymore. “Am I wrong? Ariel, if you protect such a merciless woman like Hazel, aren’t you afraid she’s going to set you up in the future? Besides, who knows whose bastard she’s pregnant with?!”

“You…!” Ariel was furious. “Karla, only a woman like you, will be pregnant with a bastard! Do you really think nobody knows what you did? You secretly drugged Ivan to keep him from breaking up with you and then said you were pregnant with his baby and forced him to marry you.

“If it were not for the carefulness of Ivan, who kept the evidence that you didn’t have sex, you would likely have planned to pester him for whole life with some bastard whose father was unknown.”

“You, you… nonsense!” Karla turned pale. She had no idea that Ariel would know about the incident with her and Ivan! Now Karla was like being stripped completely and thrown in the crowd, humiliated and disgraced!

The other people looked at her with surprise and contempt. After all, if Ariel was right, then Karla did something really bad. They would have to stay away from her in the future.

“You know I’m not talking nonsense!” Ariel sneered, “Should I call Ivan to come to confront you face-to-face?”

In an instant, Karla panicked and couldn’t resist shouting. “Don’t try to change the subject!”

At this point, Hazel looked at Karla coldly. “I’m pregnant with my husband’s baby, of course.”

“Do you think people will believe your lies?” Karla was not going to pretend now that they had totally fallen out. She gave out a sneer. “Hazel, you’re not married. How could you possibly have a husband?”

“My husband is Joshua Denmark, the President of Denmark Group,” Hazel explained with rare patience. Of course, she didn’t say that to Karla but to her own classmates.

“Oh, how could anyone believe such a bad lie?” Karla continued, “He’s not here now, so you can say what you want. You’re pregnant, and the baby’s father is unknown, do you really think other men will respect you?”

“I believe Hazel,” Derek said suddenly. He looked at Hazel with an affectionate look. “Besides, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with Hazel right now. She is innocent.”

There was a hidden expectation in his heart. If he helped Hazel at present, would Hazel like him? In order to get everything that she had, even if she has ten children, he had to treat her well seemingly.

Karla didn’t make Hazel sick, but Derek did. How hypocritical he looked!

“Derek, stop daydreaming!” Karla looked at him sarcastically. “Do you think Hazel will like you?”

Derek stared at Karla angrily.

“If you care so much about me, how can you not know who my husband is? Or haven’t you read today’s news?” Ignoring Derek, Hazel looked at Karla nonchalantly.

Chapter 578: You Don’t Have To Wait

Of course, the reporters would never let go of this kind of big news, especially when it was about Joshua’s ‘resurrection.’ They would rush to release the news. Hazel knew the media’s movements were very quick. Although she and Joshua had sent the reporters away, there should be some news about them by now.

After all, the news was allowed to be released by the media under Joshua’s instructions.

Many students noticed Hazel’s confidence, so they took out their phones and secretly searched. Of course, soon, they found the news that Joshua and Hazel were interviewed together.

“What news?” Karla froze. The news had just been released by the media, and of course, she hadn’t seen it.

Besides, Karla had been speculating about Hazel’s pregnancy in the worst way. She had already decided that Hazel was a bad woman who tricked Joshua out of money, killed people, and was also dissolute. Hence, when she heard this sentence, instead of searching and reading the news on her phone, Karla thought that Hazel was deliberately changing the topic.

“Hazel, who doesn’t know you are rich, powerful, and exceptionally capable now.” Karla sneered. “Do you think you can fool the public by buying a few small reporters off to write whitewashing articles for you? Ask your husband to come here if you are that capable. As long as you can make him come here, I’ll apologize!”

With that, Karla thought she had guessed Hazel’s scheme correctly, and she thought her last words were so perfect that Hazel couldn’t even retort. Therefore, she wore a triumphant face now.

Several classmates, who had read the news and known Joshua had appeared, looked at Karla as if she was an idiot. Yet, Karla actually still had the nerve to talk like this!

Derek was still unwilling to give up. Seeing that Karla was getting more and more arrogant, he looked cold and pretended to defend Hazel. “Karla, don’t go too far! Everyone knows Joshua is missing. How can you ask Hazel to get him to show up? You can hurt me. Don’t give Hazel a hard time!”

The other classmates looked at Derek, feeling it strange. Was he really helping Hazel? Why did they all feel…Derek was doing Hazel a disservice?

In addition, Derek actually wanted to be with Hazel? The other classmates were speechless. They didn’t look down on Derek. However, Derek had already had a lot of trouble with Hazel when he was in college. How could he still pester Hazel now? How thick-skinned he was! His evil intentions were too obvious now! Did he consider everyone else a fool?

Some classmates couldn’t help speaking.

“You should stop speaking now.” Finally, a classmate persuaded, “Derek, Karla, after all, this reunion is held by our monitor, you should stop making trouble now….”

“Yeah, yeah…” A few classmates echoed.

Hearing this, Karla got angry. “Derek, do you think she’ll appreciate it even if you’re so eager to help Hazel? Look, there are so many people trying to curry favor with her!”

Those classmates’ faces suddenly darkened. Hazel was in a really good mood today. Karla had been slandering Hazel, but Hazel had never said a single harsh word. That was why they tried to persuade Karla.

However, Karla swore at them instead of thanking them for their kindness. At the thought of this, they disliked Karla very much.

Karla didn’t know that her words had offended everyone. She said complacently, “Hazel, if you can prove that Joshua is still alive, I’ll not only apologize, but you can punish me as you like!”

“Punish? Can we punish you in any way?” Ariel was interested instantly and then gave out a sneer, “Then can you slap yourself on the face a hundred times and yell ten times ‘Karla’s baby is a bastard’?”

Of course, Ariel knew Joshua was alive, and that was why Hazel, who was very happy, wasn’t interested in dealing with such an unimportant person. Of course, Hazel didn’t care, but Ariel couldn’t stand seeing Karla’s behavior. Hence, she’d love to help Hazel teach Karla a lesson.

“Ariel, it’s none of your business?!” Karla was furious.

“What, are you scared?” Ariel said on purpose.

“Who said I’m scared? So I’m not the one who has done something wrong?” Karla growled at Ariel angrily. She gave Hazel a cold look. “But can you keep your word? Do you think you can represent Hazel?”

“I think it’s a hot idea, but slapping yourself a hundred times is too demanding. Fifty is enough.” Hazel’s mouth tilted upwards slightly at the corners. She did not want to bother with Karla, but since Karla was so dying to slap her face herself, then, of course, Hazel would only help her achieve her ‘dream.’

“Okay, everyone present will be the witnesses!” Ariel said hurriedly, afraid Karla would back out.

Karla froze. She didn’t expect that Ariel would be more worried than she was. But Karla had already thought that she herself would win, so instead of being afraid, she said very proudly, “Good, show me how Hazel proves her innocence today!”

“Forget it, Hazel. Didn’t you say you had something else to tell me? Let’s go first.” Derek also thought that Hazel couldn’t prove it, so at this point, he planned to bail her out. But while he helped Hazel out, he tried to get people to misunderstand his relationship with her.

“Derek, are you still daydreaming?” Ariel was speechless with anger. She disliked Derek very much and scolded him directly. “Did Hazel want to talk to you? Stop telling lies!”

Derek suppressed his anger. He looked at Hazel, pretending to be sensible. But, when he made Hazel love and obey him, he would definitely make Ariel have a tough time!

Hazel gave Derek a cool look, and her eyes flashed with sarcasm. “Mr. Sanchez, Ariel is right. You should stop daydreaming.”

“You…!” Derek was furious. Seeing Hazel didn’t give him face at all, he realized that he didn’t have a chance to be with her now. Then he grunted coldly with reluctance, “Fine! Show me how you will handle it!”

Karla was even happier when they fell out, and she couldn’t help urging. “Come on, Hazel Crowe. How long do you want us to wait?”

“You don’t have to wait,” Hazel replied flatly. “He’s here.”

With that, the door of the private room was pushed open.

Karla’s face paled. Is Joshua really here? That’s impossible!

She panicked and looked at the door. Then she saw the monitor come in.

“Hazel Crowe, is it he who you want us to see?” Karla laughed even more complacently.

 

Chapter 579: Have You Forgotten All This

“What happened?” The monitor, whose name was David, looked dazed.

“David,” Karla said sarcastically. “Hardly had Hazel said her husband came when you came in. Are you a couple now?”

Hearing her words, David was taken aback instantly. “Karla Lee, don’t talk nonsense. How could I be Hazel’s husband?”

“Hazel Crowe, what do you want to say now?” Karla looked back at Hazel with a confident face.

But she did not notice all the other people were staring at the door in astonishment.

After David entered the room, Joshua also came in. Many people had just seen Joshua’s picture on the news and recognized him at a glance. Even if they didn’t see his picture, they could also guess Joshua’s identity just by feeling his cool, noble temperament.

Hazel looked toward the door as her eyes were filled with tenderness.

“Hazel, why don’t you speak?” Karla continued.

Ariel said crossly, “Are you blind?”

“You…!” Karla flew into a rage. She was about to speak when she felt a chill of horror on her back. This chill made her feel as if she had been thrown into hell, which was dark and dangerous!

She shivered suddenly and could not say a single word. Then a tall figure walked past her. Karla looked up, and suddenly her face looked white as a sheet as if she had seen a ghost!

Joshua strode into the room and calmly walked over to Hazel. There was originally an empty seat next to Hazel’s, but Derek shamelessly sat down.

Hazel didn’t have time to kick him out because Karla had been pestering her.

Joshua furrowed his eyebrows and said in a cold voice, “Please make way.”

Although he said ‘please,’ there was an undoubtedly imperative tone in his words.

Derek’s face changed dramatically. He was not less surprised than Karla when he saw Joshua.

Joshua brought him such a strong sense of oppression that even fear rose in his heart despite himself! Then, suddenly, Derek thought of the overconfident words he had said to Hazel, and now he was dying to disappear directly!

Derek stood up in a panic, but he staggered and almost fell.

Joshua calmly sat down next to Hazel, his long arms draped casually around the back of Hazel’s chair, but it seemed to everyone that he was holding her.

Derek sat hurriedly on a seat next to them. However, with Joshua at his side, he suddenly looked ugly. Thinking Derek wanted to become Hazel’s lover, everyone looked at Derek with disgust.

It seemed Derek had noticed the other classmates’ look in their eyes, so he looked even more flustered. He quickly changed places with a classmate and sat away from Joshua.

“What happened?” Joshua’s mouth tilted upwards slightly at the corners with a charming smile.

The people around him could not help becoming a little obsessed with him. They had heard of Joshua. After all, it was said he and Hazel had an affair, and he appeared in Quantum University several times for Hazel, but every time they saw Joshua, he looked aloof and indifferent. Even a glance at him would make them have a sense of inferiority somehow at all.

However, this kind of man who looked like god actually laughed! Besides, it seemed all his tenderness and doting were given to Hazel!

Everyone’s heart was full of envy, while Karla’s heart and eyes were filled with jealousy!

How is that possible?! She couldn’t believe her own eyes!

With so many people saying Joshua was dead, she also secretly spread rumors on the Internet that Hazel murdered him because she was pregnant with a bastard whose father was unknown. Her rumors weren’t very influential at all, so Hazel didn’t notice it.

Because she said the rumors too many times, even Karla herself believed them. But now Joshua, whom she had thought to be dead, appeared alive right in front of her!

In her panic, Karla forgot that she was supposed to be worrying about something else, but Hazel didn’t.

“I made a bet with her just now,” Hazel said with a smile, pointing directly at Karla. “she said she’d slap her own face fifty times if you showed up.”

Karla’s face kept changing, and finally, she managed to force a smile. “Hazel… I was just kidding. You’re such a kind person, and Master Denmark loves your kindness. You wouldn’t be petty, would you?”

Hazel sneered. Karla fawned on her now? It was a pity it was too late.

Hazel was not a person who was unwilling to give others a break, but she wasn’t unreasonably compassionate. Karla provoked and slandered her again and again, so she would never give Karla a break.

“Do you like me because I’m kind?” Hazel looked at Joshua.

“Yes,” Joshua said as he gently caressed her hair, “You’re too kind and don’t want to be petty and argue with others.”

Karla felt delighted in the heart and couldn’t help breathing a sigh of relief. It seemed that Joshua planned to let her go now? Or did Joshua have a different feeling for her, so he helped her instead of Hazel?

Joshua did not know that Karla had imagined so much in an instant, but even if he knew that he would not care.

Karla looked at Joshua with watery eyes and said coquettishly, “Master Denmark…”

Before she could finish the sentence, Joshua said, “Fortunately, I can become very petty for you.”

Karla froze. She saw Joshua’ cold eyes stare at her and heard his deep voice, “Fifty slaps, begin.”

“This, this is just a joke. Everybody can help me to testify…” Karla panicked instantly. If she really slapped herself fifty times, how ashamed she would be!

She looked at the other classmates for help, but they were very sick of her behavior. They all said, “Right, we can all testify that they weren’t joking. They made a bet indeed.”

“You, you…” Karla’s face was livid. She had never expected that none spoke for her!

“David…” Karla looked piteously at David. “I’m your guest….”

David gave her a disgusted look. “Karla Lee, when did you become my guest? It’s you who recommend yourself and want to help me book the private room for the reunion. I was so tired of being pestered by you that I had to allow you to help me. I paid for your help, but you insisted you stay. Have you forgotten all this?”

 

Chapter 580: You Can’t Leave Until You Slap Yourself Fifty Times

All the classmates understood instantly and looked at Karla with disgruntled expressions.

“You, you…” Karla gritted her teeth angrily. She didn’t expect that there was no one in the room who wanted to help her!

Thinking that she would be humiliated if she stayed here, she picked up her handbag with exasperation and swore, “Humph, what a ridiculous reunion! Do you think I want to come?”

With that, she planned to leave directly.

If nobody helped her, she would have to help herself. At least she wouldn’t have to slap herself if she ran away.

“Stop,” Joshua spoke coldly.

Karla stiffened.

“I told you I was very petty.” Joshua said indifferently, “You can’t leave until you slap fifty times.”

Karla swayed. At this moment, she was dying to rush out of the room, but she did not dare to offend Joshua.

Even though she had reached the door and could escape as long as she opened it, the pressure Joshua brought made her legs tremble. She could even tell clearly that if she left, Joshua would never let her go! At that time, her punishment wouldn’t be just fifty slaps.

Karla turned helplessly and raised her hands.

“Wait!”

A sudden voice sounded. Karla exulted. Was someone willing to help her at long last? But as she followed the voice, her face paled again. It was none other than Ariel. As Hazel’s best friend, how could Ariel help her?

Of course, Ariel wouldn’t help Karla. Ariel pretended that she had just come to her senses, “I was so lost in the drama that I almost forgot… Master Denmark, Hazel is just too kind to tell you. Besides fifty slaps, Karla has to yell ten times ‘Karla’s baby is a bastard’!”

Joshua’s eyes suddenly went cold. He wasn’t in the room before, but he already knew what had happened according to Ariel’s words.

“Mmm,” he said flatly, “Go ahead.”

Karla clenched her teeth with hatred, but she had to obey.

After yelling ten times, ‘Karla’s baby is a bastard,’ Karla raised her hand and slapped herself in the face.

While slapping, she looked at the other people piteously, but they did not give her a glance at all. Instead, they just talked to each other, as if she didn’t exist at all!

Even though Karla’s slaps were relatively light, her face turned swollen because of the fifty slaps.

“May I go now?” Karla suppressed her hatred in the heart.

Joshua was whispering softly to Hazel. He said something, which made Hazel giggle.

“All right, let her go,” Hazel said.

Joshua sighed quietly. This little girl was really soft-hearted. On such occasions, however, there was really no need for them to make a scene.

He waved his hand, and Karla ran away as if she had been granted amnesty.

After she ran out of Denmark Group’s hotel, Karla couldn’t help but stop and swear at Hazel.

No, she couldn’t be just humiliated like that.

Karla was thinking about what rumors she could continue to spread to ruin Hazel’s reputation when she heard everyone around her seem to be pointing fingers at her.

“It’s her….”

“It seems to be her…”

Karla raised her head and shouted with a ferocious face. “What are you doing?”

The people hurried to walk away. She was still confused when she saw her parents walk towards her hastily.

Karla asked blankly. “Dad, mom, what are you doing here… Ah!”

Her father slapped her in the face hard. Karla was stunned. She never thought her father would beat her!

“What have you done?!” Her father threw a phone at her angrily!

Karla knew something was wrong. She picked up the phone to take a look, and then her face turned pale instantly! In order to blackmail Ivan, she had to find a man to help her get pregnant. But that man actually had a quirk and actually videotaped the scene where they had sex that night. Now, the man posted the video online!

“No, it, it isn’t, that….” Karla panicked. “I, I, was set up…” she stammered as she tried to explain.

“How dare you quibble at this point! How can I have such a daughter like you!” Her father turned livid with anger. He couldn’t help but slap her in the face again! After slapping, he gave her body a hard kick!

“Mom!!” Karla screamed in pain.

“Karla, you let us down,” her mother, who had always been partial to and doted on Karla, looked at her grief-stricken. “You said firmly that you were pregnant with Ivan’s child. Because we believed you, we broke up with the Lance family. Would our family end up like this if we didn’t make too much trouble for the Lance family?

“But what did you do? What did you say in the video? You told the strange man personally that you would help him give birth to a bastard and then leave it to Ivan! How could you say that? How do you expect us to face the Lance family with confidence?”

“We can’t have this kind of daughter like you! From this day on, Karla, let’s cut ties with each other!”

“Mom, dad, I was wrong….” Karla was in a panic. Regardless of the pain, she reached out to embrace her father’s leg.

However, her parents had completely abandoned her. Her father kicked her away in disgust and left together with her mother.

Of course, Hazel didn’t know about these things. But Joshua, who sat next to her, suddenly took out his phone and read a message.

He had vaguely heard the noise in the room when he was outside talking with David.

He didn’t come in immediately because he didn’t know what was going on. Plus, there were a lot of things he couldn’t do if Hazel were around.

So, after he heard from David that the woman who was causing Hazel’s trouble was named Karla Lee, he asked Samuel to investigate her thoroughly.

After finding out that Karla had spread rumors and slandered Hazel, Joshua decided that he wouldn’t let this woman go.

Of course, it was he who had had Karla’s video let out, and he had prepared one copy for Karla’s parents. It so happened that Karla’s parents were nearby, so Karla ran into her parents immediately after she left the hotel.

Knowing that the woman got what she deserved, Joshua left it behind.

Without Karla, the whole reunion was very harmonious. Derek was still there, but he didn’t take nonsense anymore.

Suddenly, Hazel’s phone rang.

She took out her phone in surprise. It was a text message from Simon.

“You actually made such a big deal of it?”

“What?” Hazel was perplexed and sent him a text message.